You’ve probably heard about the connection between good health and what you eat, as well as the need of modifying your diet when you have a problem. For example, if you have high cholesterol, you should limit your intake of cheese and red meat, both of which are rich in dangerous saturated fat, and instead, focus on lean chicken and vegetables.
Can modifying your diet help lessen symptoms like itchy or red skin if you have a skin disease like eczema – the most common kind, also known as atopic dermatitis?
Is there a relationship between nutrition and eczema?
Sometimes. “Some patients have a specific intolerance or allergy to something, and that may induce eczema outbreaks,” explains family medicine expert Saadia Hussain, MD, comparing it to someone whose asthma is caused by allergens.
“If they come into contact with a certain sort of plant, something in the environment, or animal dander, their asthma can flare up.” “It’s the same with eczema,” Dr Hussain explains. “It’s possible that their body doesn’t respond well to anything, and when that occurs, they have an eczema flare.”
It is more difficult to determine which foods produce eczema symptoms since everyone has different sensitivities. What annoys you and triggers an eczema flare-up may not affect someone else.
Dr Hussain, on the other hand, believes that “anything with anti-inflammatory characteristics is excellent for most inflammatory skin disorders,” which include eczema, psoriasis, and dyshidrotic eczema. Spices like turmeric and ginger, for example, are well-known for their anti-inflammatory properties.
Will following a certain eating plan help me manage my eczema?
It all depends. There is no diet or food that can cure eczema, but you may adjust your diet to attempt to keep the symptoms at bay, just as you would for any chronic health condition. Drinking enough of water (eight 8-ounce glasses per day) is also important for preventing eczema outbreaks and moisturising the skin throughout therapy.
Eczema anti-inflammatory diet
Anti-inflammatory diets provide several advantages, including pain alleviation and symptom improvement from chronic diseases such as fibromyalgia. These diets may also assist with eczema symptoms, which can be caused by stress, your immune system responds to allergens or irritants in your surroundings.
Dairy, whole grains, red meat, wheat, and sugar are restricted in anti-inflammatory diets, whereas vegetables and fish are prioritised. In reality, turning vegan (or eating an almost all plant-based diet) is also a viable option.
Eczema and the Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean diet, which emphasises vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish with omega-3 fatty acids (such as salmon or tuna), and olive oil, has long been commended by medical specialists for its health advantages. “It’s more plant-based and contains a lot of fish,” Dr Hussain explains. “It has a lot of nuts, which is where you get your protein.”
Eczema Ayurvedic Diet
The Ayurvedic diet is similar to the Mediterranean diet in that it emphasises natural foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. This diet, on the other hand, emphasises spices such as coriander, cumin, ginger, turmeric, and cinnamon. “All of them work as anti-inflammatories,” adds Dr Hussain. “All of these spices are quite beneficial to your health.”
Eczema exclusion diet
You may be thinking whether an elimination diet, in which you eliminate certain items from your meal rotation and then gradually put them back in to observe what causes an allergic response, may help. “There is no evidence to imply that dietary allergies cause eczema,” Dr Hussain explains. “In general, we do not suggest elimination diets, particularly in children.”
Diet for dyshidrotic eczema
Unfortunately, there is no special diet that helps alleviate the symptoms of dyshidrotic eczema, also known as dyshidrosis. This form of eczema is often seen on your hands and is produced when your skin gets dry and dehydrated as a result of chemical exposure or using a hand sanitiser.
According to Dr Hussain, the standard treatment is a high-potency topical steroid or UV therapy. However, since dyshidrotic eczema develops tiny blisters and broken skin, you should avoid acidic meals, such as citrus fruits, which may cause extra surface irritation.
“We suggest using vinyl gloves if you’re going to be dealing with anything that has a high acid content, such as food preparation,” explains Dr Hussain.
Sensitivities to chemicals such as nickel, cobalt, or chromium may also induce this kind of eczema. While attempting to exclude just those minerals from your diet is not the greatest option, moving to a plant-based diet may assist. “You’ll naturally wind up consuming meals that lack the majority of those sorts of nutrients,” Dr Hussain explains.
Gluten-free eating plan
Gluten may be found in a variety of foods, including the obvious — brown rice, bread, chips, baked goods — as well as the unexpected, such as soy sauce and salad dressing. Switching to a gluten-free diet may be beneficial for some individuals. “Gluten may make things worse,” says Dr Hussain. “Whenever someone has chronic GI or skin problems, and they’ve been worked up and everything is negative, the next thing I advise them is to try to remove gluten out of their diet.” When you follow a gluten-free diet, you may discover that your skin or chronic GI issue improves.”
Above all, monitoring what you eat relates to making wise decisions.
“If you’re eating healthy, you’re trying to consume things that don’t contain preservatives, aren’t produced, and aren’t packed,” explains Dr Hussain. “When you go to the grocery store, shop on the outside.” When you go into a shop, the first thing you notice is fruits and vegetables. Then you go to the dairy area, then the meat and poultry section, and finally out the door.”
Dr Hussain, on the other hand, emphasises that combining a well-balanced diet with regular exercise is always the best option.
“If you strive to do that and make it a part of your lifestyle, it will assist you with all diseases,” Dr Hussain adds. “Eczema is included.” This covers your risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and mental health issues. Our bodies were not designed to be sedentary, and they were not designed to consume all of these manufactured meals.”